So my gorgeous new PO from Eddie Lee still wouldn't wind itself- the rotor seemed to be experiencing some resistance- And I'm not qualified to screw with the guts of an automatic watch yet.
Made a few phone calls to the local watch shops- BIG mistake- "Do you know anyone who works on mechanical watches?" I asked- They all had their own watch guy- when I mentioned it was a "High Grade Replica" one of the guys cursed and hung up on me- the other two basically said "You're on your own".
My wife remembered a teeny little downtown "Watch Doctor" type shop. I called up and the guy answered on like the 30th ring. I told him I had an Omega with a Swiss ETA movement- He asked me how long I'd had it- I told him it was brand new- He explained that he was not a warranty station for any major brands, I explained that it was NOT a real Omega.
Brought it down, told him the story- he popped it open right in front of me, pulled off the rotor, unscrewed a few things, muttered a few words, put the rotor back on- fixed! Screwed it back together, wiped it off, handed it back to me- refused to take any money. (I left a $20 on his bench anyway) There's some sort of clutch on these that had stuck on mine, he popped it loose and the thing swung like crazy.
As I was thanking him he said "That's a real beauty you have there- a nice big watch"- "Thanks" I said.
"What's a watch like that cost these days" he asked...Not wanting to divulge too much I just said- "I paid a pretty good price- I'm pleased".
"What are those- like two or Three grand??" He asked- "Yeah" I said- referring to the gen. We chatted for a few minutes and it dawned on me that he thought it WAS the gen! Now I know this was an older guy who probably hasn't seen any new high end watches lately- and had not seen an Omega made within the last 20 years- And i KNOW an omega authorized watchsmith would have busted me from 20 feet- But still pretty impressive- don't you think??
I have a similar story about my trip to the AD with my new Pam 111H on my wrist that I'll share later this week once I post a few pictures.
Made a few phone calls to the local watch shops- BIG mistake- "Do you know anyone who works on mechanical watches?" I asked- They all had their own watch guy- when I mentioned it was a "High Grade Replica" one of the guys cursed and hung up on me- the other two basically said "You're on your own".
My wife remembered a teeny little downtown "Watch Doctor" type shop. I called up and the guy answered on like the 30th ring. I told him I had an Omega with a Swiss ETA movement- He asked me how long I'd had it- I told him it was brand new- He explained that he was not a warranty station for any major brands, I explained that it was NOT a real Omega.
Brought it down, told him the story- he popped it open right in front of me, pulled off the rotor, unscrewed a few things, muttered a few words, put the rotor back on- fixed! Screwed it back together, wiped it off, handed it back to me- refused to take any money. (I left a $20 on his bench anyway) There's some sort of clutch on these that had stuck on mine, he popped it loose and the thing swung like crazy.
As I was thanking him he said "That's a real beauty you have there- a nice big watch"- "Thanks" I said.
"What's a watch like that cost these days" he asked...Not wanting to divulge too much I just said- "I paid a pretty good price- I'm pleased".
"What are those- like two or Three grand??" He asked- "Yeah" I said- referring to the gen. We chatted for a few minutes and it dawned on me that he thought it WAS the gen! Now I know this was an older guy who probably hasn't seen any new high end watches lately- and had not seen an Omega made within the last 20 years- And i KNOW an omega authorized watchsmith would have busted me from 20 feet- But still pretty impressive- don't you think??
I have a similar story about my trip to the AD with my new Pam 111H on my wrist that I'll share later this week once I post a few pictures.
